Anthrax Unleash Lyric Video for New Song ‘Evil Twin’ Off Upcoming Album

Anthrax fans, you've patiently waited and the time has come. There's a new Anthrax song and you can get your first listen to "Evil Twin" in the lyric video above. The song is the first taste of Anthrax's forthcoming album, due in 2016.

The song is pure, hard-hitting Anthrax, from Charlie Benante's rapid-fire frenetic drumming to Joey Belladonna's power vocals to the sharp and aggressive guitar work from Jon Donais and Scott Ian. Meanwhile, the song plays out over the backdrop of political, religious, military and cult leaders, showcasing a barrage of places, victims, actions and some of the infamous zealots who have perpetrated violence around the world. With the powerful message, "You're no martyrs," Anthrax get their message across.

"That opening riff is really evil," says Benante. "We had done a lot of touring with Death Angel and Exodus, so I was in a really thrashy state of mind when I started writing riffs for that song. I think along with Scott's lyrics and Frank's melodies, we came up with a really great, old school thrash metal feel." Bassist Frank Bello adds, "It's a song that begs to be played live."

As Benante revealed, the lyrics came from Scott Ian, who explains, "I was very affected by the Charlie Hebdo massacre as I have been with all of the shootings that have taken place at schools and movie theaters."

Ian adds, "I can't figure out what would cause someone to think that was the right thing to do. 'I'll show the world, I'll make my God happy.' It's just such bulls--t. I'm not bagging on religion, that's not my intent, but people who go to that extreme, who feel they have become judge, jury and executioner over their fellow man because you or I don't believe the same thing they do, I think that's the 'Evil Twin' of humanity. Writing words about that is my only catharsis." If you like the song, the track is now available via Amazon and iTunes.

Starting in the fall of 2014, Anthrax began mapping out the music for their next album. Though a title for the upcoming disc has yet to be revealed, the album is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2016 via Megaforce Records in North America and Nuclear Blast in Europe and the U.K.

Building up to the album's release, Anthrax are spending the late fall on tour with Slayer in Europe. The run begins this Sunday (Oct. 25) in the Netherlands and continue through early December, wrapping Dec. 9 in Moscow, Russia. Their dates can be found here.

You Think You Know Anthrax?

See Where Charlie Benante Ranks Among the Top 50 Hard Rock + Metal Drummers